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August 15, 2010

A quilt along and a GIVEAWAY!

Does the world need another quilt along? I say YES.

Have you noticed that most quilt alongs assemble a quilt top over several weeks and then address the quilting briefly at the end? I have, and I want to do the exact opposite! I want to briefly assemble a top and then walk you through quilting it, with patterns that are interesting to you.

There seem to be lots of quilters who want to practice free motion quilting - but not on a quilt top they've worked hard on. This quilt along gives you a quilt you don't have to worry about ruining - you could even make it out of fabric that you hate if you want. Or, if you don't want to assemble the top, that's fine too. You can just quilt along with scraps.

If you've never free motion quilted before, I'm going to show you how. If you're stuck in a meandering rut, I'm gonna help you break free. If you're already free motioning your little heart out I might at least give you a few new designs to try. I'm no expert, but I've had some success teaching other quilters to free motion quilt and I want to spread the good news far and wide: you can do it! On your home machine! It's not magic. (But it does feel magical!)

So to generate a little interest in this thing and to start some lucky quilter off on the right foot, I've got a little free motion prize package to give away. The lucky winner will receive:

Since the giveaway is an unabashed attempt to publicize the quilt along, you have three ways to enter. You should leave a separate comment for each entry.

1 - leave a comment on this post telling me something you hope we cover in the quilt along.
2 - become a follower of this blog
3 - blog about the giveaway or quilt along and leave the URL to your post below

The giveaway will be open through August 21st. Good luck and stay tuned! If you'd like a button for the quilt along, here it is (for some reason this looks fine on my home screen and sideways everywhere else. I'll do my best to fix it!):

686 comments:

hey Christina, this is such a good idea i have a quilt put together but have not taken the leap to quilt but i have plan's and material for 2 more quilt's so during this quilt along i hope to gain the confidence to do some lovely quilting... maybe some train's, cowboy hat's ball's of wool and needles!!!! so specific but that's the kid's and grand parent's quilting idea i would love to do!!!!

i have blogged about your lovely sew-along!!! the pic is the wrong way but is fine in my pic's!!!! to early to fix it though!!!!http://misstracianderson.blogspot.com/2010/08/few-scraps-quilt-along.html

I think I've got the basic idea of FMQing, but I'd love to see the details of how you do it. I also don't have the confidence to "draw" pictures with my quilting like you do. That's what I'd like to do.

Quilting along,What a beautiful idea!! I do not have idea about free motion quilting so all your advices will be great for me. I tried to make placemats using freemotion but... well results weren't what I expected.Is the giveaway open to international readers? If so count me in please :D

I am genuinely excited about this! You've been so kind to answer some of my questions already. I'm looking forward to learning more! I'm wondering about space requirements for free-motion quilting. I guess most of us have issues with our sewing space, but maybe I'll rearrange my room before getting into this... :-) Looking forward to learning lots and lots!

Free motion quilting, scary subject for me. I've yet to build up the nerve to actually try it. I think I need to take baby steps because I feel like I'll get lost in it all. Really need some VERY simple starter ideas!

wow, really .. what a great idea, would love to give this a try, as for things to cover, some real basics, getting started, what you need etc .. moving slowly through.Thanks for such a great giveaway, here's hoping x

What a coincidence. I have a laprobe quilt that I am donating that I have been avoiding because of the quilting it needs. This morning I began to do simple straight stitching just to finish it. I would love to know how to do simple free motion quilting so that make quilt tops will look as good quilted as I think they do unquilted. I know how to sew a quilt, but not how to quilt a quilt. I'm in!

This is a great idea and I'm so excited you're doing it! I got a new machine with a stitch regulator earlier this summer and have yet to do much with it because I know I need to practice but I don't want to mess anything up. So this rocks!Anyway, I guess the thing I'd most like to see is how to smooth out stitching going around curves and corners. And new ideas for quilting designs in general are always fun. Thanks!

I forgot to mention what I'd like to see you cover in my last comment... I'd love to get some instrution on the whole quilt sandwich affair. Which works best? pins or spray and do you quilt in the ditch AND free motion?

I'd love to learn whatever you have to teach on free motion quilting--I'm still trying to get up enough nerve to try it! I really want to know how to do the stippling without running over your stitches or making it look too repetitive (or is this how it's done? I'm a total newbie!) and also how to "draw" with free motion quilting. Thanks for the tips! :)

Hey Chirstina, I found your blog through Traci (myhandmadehappiness)who was promoting your free motion quilt along. I am now following you!What a great idea!As a newbee to quilting, and being both in fear and awe of the free motion technique I say, please! tell me all you can! I promise to be a sponge! I have wondered about quilting ever since my mum took it up years ago. I have now inherited all her books, but really wish she could hold me hand a bit as I take my first steps. Thank goodness for your quilt along!Bonnie(The Fat Chick)xx

I'm new to free motion quilting, in fact I'm kind of new to quilting. I've made two log cabin quilts and quilted them on my machine with a stitch in a ditch. I'm anxious to quilt one with free motion quilting. I'm a sponge and ready to absorb all you are so generous to impart.Pattyswanvalleybears@gmail.com

I love the quilts that are quilted in a pebble pattern, but I haven't figured out to do it. So if that was covered I would love it. Thanks for the quilt along and giveaway.spackattak7 at hotmail dot com

oooh...this sounds like a great quilt a long! I've been doing a little practice on my free motion...I need practice! :) I hope you will cover how to start and stop, and how to keep the bottom straight and tight so the back side looks good too! Threads...what do you do when it breaks in the middle of the process? :)

It sounds interesting. I love free motion and would love to learn ways to make it easier. One of the things I hate is pinning the layers, would love an easier way. I also struggle with a larger one, even though I have a deep area, so I would love to see how to move the quilt around smoothly.

I have all the items, even the gloves, so don't need to be in the contest.

Very much looking forward to this, feeling nervous though because free motion seems really daunting! I hope to see covered: tips on how to keep all the layers from shifting, so that the top and bottom layer don't develop folds in the stitching. Thanks!

I am leaving a post and will become a follower. I am in a deep rut when it comes to quilting and only ever stipple but am dying to try something else, so this is perfect for me! Thankslauradublin09@yahoo.com

What a nice surprise this morning...I am looking forward to quilting along with all of you..today I am taking my first longarm lesson and am very excited..and now this...must be meant to be..blessings Judy

What a great quilt-a-long! I am putting together a quilt right now that I really want to free motion quilt but am at a loss as how to do it, this is perfect! Thanks for hosting and I WILL be joining in! :)

Hi Christina!Just what I need! I am really bored with meandering on everything, so would love to join you all!! Have added your Blog to my Google Reader list, don't know if this counts as a 'follower', and can't wait for new postings.......Luv AJ

Got here from Yahoo's "Quiltbee." (Thanks, Diana) I have a new Kenmore machine, and one of my goals is to learn to do free motion quilting with it. I'll be following along, and learning lots! Thanks so much!

What a great quiltalong! I know I need lots more practice on the quilting aspect of a quilt, so I'm hoping to learn lots! I'm always worried about puckers and wrinkles on the back of my quilt so I hope you can address how to minimize this problem.Susan in NCsusie.galasso@gmail.com

What a great idea! I can do basic stippling, but I always seem to mess up when it comes to real quilting patterns. I'd love to see pebble quilting covered - you know, with all those teensy roundish ovals side by side? I haven't figured that out so easily. I can't keep the pebbles straight!

I just finished a quilt top and have seriously thought about quilting it myself. Looking forward to maybe getting it done. It will be a charity quilt, so...It's Asian fabrics, so a design that would work with that is my goal.

I love this idea. I haven't tackled free motion yet, but I plan to when I get my new machine. I'm just hoping to learn enough about the basics that I will actually be able to free motion on the quilts I give to others.kell22 @ cox.net

thanks for the giveaway! I need help with controlling stitches--I have trouble with getting my feet and hands in unison resulting in uneven stitches or strange "angles" of the thread instead of fluid circles.

This sounds just like what I need. I have an older sewing machine where the feed dogs do not drop. Also, I have not located the types of feet most tuts suggest (either a walking foot or clear circular darning foot). Is it possible for the instructions to include those of us who have old machines (think 1950s to 1970) without modern bells and whistles? Hope I can take part.

I tend to stick with what's familiar. And easy. So I'd love to see the tips you will provoide on how I can do this easier. Can you get me out of my comfort zone? I soooo hope so.dmj53(at)hotmail(dot)com

This is such a good idea especially at this time for me. I am trying to learn more than just the basic free motion of quilting. I never use gloves so winning a pair would really be great. Thanks for such a lovely giveaway and for doing this quilt along.

This sounds fun!! I would love for you to cover how NOT to get folds on the back side of the quilt when free motion quilting...I pin and pin and pin but still get the fabric bunched on the back every now and again...thanks for the giveaway!

174, so I live in hope :-)I love trees and as your first pic is of just that how can I not enter. Quite happy to tell everyone who visits Soggibottom about your giveaway. Don't need a nudge to join your followers :-) x x x

That is such a good idea! I have been wanting to try it but I have an industrial machine which won't let me lower the feed dogs - so pretty useless for freemotion quilting. But my mom has a normal sewing machine which I could probably use. Long story short, anything would be appreciated!

I'm looking forward to this quilt along. I have a stack of quilt top just waiting for that final step. I'm looking forward to ideas for different types of quilt tops like pieced versus applique and combinations of both etc. It will be fun to work along with you. HOpe it starts soon.

Count me in. I don't even care if I win - I just bought a free-motion foot (I don't even know what it is called) and I have only briefly experimented with it. I can't commit to the time a quilt-a-long would take, but I sure as heck can throw something together quick-like and learn to quilt. Awesome idea.

I hope you cover how to fix various mistakes that might occur. I've never done free motion quilting, I've tried on a few scraps before and the back ends up a horrible mess and I have no idea why that's happening.